Line-holder.



No. 794,570. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. L. B. TOMPKINS.

LINE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.13, 1905.

31 we n for Wihwona Patented July 11, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEMUEL B. TOMPKINS, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

LINE-HOLDER.

SI'ECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 794,570, dated July 11, 1905.

Application filed March 13, 1905. Serial No. 249,790.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEMUEL B. TOMPKINS, a 1

citizen of the United States, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Line-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to securing devices for ropes or lines commonly known as lineholders, and has for its object to provide an improved construction of the same that will maintain the line taut under strain and which may be slackened when not in use and yet retain the free end of the line in engagement therewith in position to be drawn taut when desired. This object I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved holder, showing the line applied thereto and held taut. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from the opposite side of the holder. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same.

Similarnumerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 denotes a block of wood or other suitable material provided near one end with an aperture 2 for the reception of one end of the line 3, the same to be permanently attached thereto, as shown. Near its other end said block is provided with the two apertures 4 and 5, located in the longitudinal center of the block, and between the apertures 2 and 4 is provided a jam-slot 6, extending diagonally from one side of the block to approximately the longitudinal center thereof and in the direction of the apertures 4 and 5, as shown. On one side of the block is fixed at 7 a spring-plate 8, the free end of the same overlying the aperture 4 and extending part way of the distance between said aperture 4 and the aperture 5, as shown.

.In operation the line 3 is fastened at one end through aperture 2 and then after passing around the usual pulleys 9 or other suitable fixed points is passed through aperture 5 toward the side on which spring-plate 8 is located and is passed from thence back through l aperture 4, the spring-plate 8 pressing thereon, as shown. The line may now be drawn taut and its free end engaged in jam-slot 6, which will firmly retain it in its taut condition under any usual strain. When it is desired to slacken the line-as, for instance, when not in usethe same may be disengaged completely from jam-slot 6, whereupon the resistance olfered to its slackening by its engagement in the apertures 4 and 5, augmented by the resistance offered by the spring-plate 8 pressing thereon, while it will permit a moderate reduction of the tension from the taut condition will still be sufficient to prevent a complete disengagement, the line being thus retained by the apertures 4 and 5 and spring-plate 8 in a slackened condition.

I have found that by employing the two apertures 4 and 5 alone for the reception of the line 3 and by making said apertures approximately the size of the line the same will offer sufiicient resistance to prevent disengagement; but owing to constant variations in the diameter of said line, due to climatic conditions, there is a liability to bind in said apertures when the line is swollen by moisture, which defect is completely overcome by making said apertures larger and employing the spring-plate 8.

A particular advantage possessed by my improved construction is that when the line is disengaged from the jam-slot 6 and permitted to slacken while the line is wet any subsequent shrinkage of the line which would tend to render the same taut will be automatically compensated for by a corresponding slipping through the apertures 4 and 5, whereby the line will remain in its slackened position and yet always engaged with its holder ready to be tautened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a 1. A line-holder, embodying a block having an open jam-slot in one side, and a plurality of line-receiving apertures in substantial alinement with and in the same end with respect to said jam-slot.

2. A line-holder, embodying a block having an open jam-slot in one side, a plurality of line-receiving apertures in substantial alinement with and in the same end with respect to said jam-slot, and a spring-plate having its free end lying in the line between said aper- 5 tures.

8. A line-holder, consisting of a block having means at one end for permanently attaching the line thereto, having an open jam-slot in one side, having a plurality of line-receiv- IO ing apertures in substantial alinement with and in the same end with respect to said jamslot, and having a spring-plate whose free end lies in the line between said apertures.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing 5 

